You can encrypt, use multi-factor authentication, connect via VPN, have anti-malware software and still give away your identity by making a fundamental mistake when using your mobile phone: Talking too loud.

According to a January 14 filing with the Security and Exchange Commission, Novell is selling off 800-plus of its management, security, identity and collaboration software patents to a consortium of tech companies, including Microsoft.

Windows management vendor Centrify this week released Centrify Express, its new integration package for Windows Active Directory services. The software toolkit is a free, lite version of its Centrify Suite, which provides greater policy and identity management capabities, and features such as server isolation and encryption of data-in-motion.

Microsoft is continuing to add to its family of healthcare sofware and services with yet another purchase: Sentillion Inc. On December 10, Microsoft announced its intentions to purchase for an undisclosed amount the privately held Andover, Mass.-based maker of identity- and access-management software for the healthcare industry.

IBM today announced the release of a new verison of its Tivoli Identity Manager, which includes upgrades that allows the company to "administer, secure, monitor and certify user identities and their access to applications, information and systems."Basically, this is about access and being able to manage that access - as well as compliance with industry and government regulations - across the entire company via security software.